The British People, the Press and the Strategic Air Campaign against Germany, 1939-45

Abstract

This article sets out to explore the way in which the RAF's wartime strategic bombing campaign against Germany was presented to the British people. It seeks to understand the flow of information about Bomber Command activities and the manner in which the media reacted. The essay also seeks to question the idea that there was widespread discontent and unease with British operations, arguing that though the media coverage fell short of explaining the true nature of the British campaign, most people had guessed what it entailed from the information presented to them and supported it.